1. Hemolytic patterns on blood agar: degree of hemolyzing blood
1.1. Green: alpha hemolysis; partial breakdown of Hb
1.1.1. Streptococcus pneumoniae
1.1.2. Streptococci spp. (viridans)
1.2. Clear: beta hemolysis; total breakdown of Hb
1.2.1. Group A Streptococci
1.2.2. Group B Streptococci
1.2.3. Staphylococcus aureus
1.2.4. some Clostridia strains
1.2.5. 1/2 of Escherichia coli strains
1.3. Red: no hemolysis
2. Disc sensitivity testing
2.1. P-disc: optochin
2.1.1. P-disc sensitivity: does not grow in presence of P-disc
2.1.1.1. Streptococcus pneumoniae
2.1.2. P-disc insensitivity: grows in presence of P-disc
2.1.2.1. All other alpha hemolytic Streptococci spp.
2.2. A-disc: bacitracin
2.2.1. A-disc sensitivity: does not grow in presence of A-disc
2.2.1.1. Group A Streptococci (S. pyogenes)
2.2.2. A-disc insensitivity: grows in the presence of A-disc
2.2.2.1. All other beta hemolytic streptococci spp.
3. Lactose fermentation: MacConkey Agar
3.1. Red or purple agar: bacteria utilize lactose
3.1.1. E. coli
3.1.2. Klebsiella
3.2. pale or colorless agar: bacteria do not utilize lactose
3.2.1. Salmonella spp.
3.2.2. Shigella spp.
4. Oxidase
4.1. Oxidase (+): turns purple
4.1.1. Pseudomonas
4.1.2. Campylobacter
4.1.3. Helicobacter
4.1.4. Vibrio spp.
4.1.5. Neisseria
4.1.6. Pasteurella
4.2. Oxidase (-): does not change color
5. Catalase test: addition of dilute hydrogen peroxide
5.1. Catalase (+): bubbling
5.1.1. Staphylococcus spp.
5.2. Catalase (-): no bubbling
5.2.1. Streptococcus spp.
5.2.2. Enterococcus spp.
6. Coagulase test
6.1. Coagulase (+): clumping of plasma
6.1.1. Staphylococcus aureus
6.2. Coagulase (-): No clumping of plasma
6.2.1. Staphylococcus epidermidis
6.2.2. Staphylococcus saprophyticus
7. Sorbitol fermentation: MacConkey agar
7.1. no sorbitol fermentation
7.1.1. E. coli 0517/EHEC/STEC
7.2. sorbitol fermention
7.2.1. non EHEC strains of E. Coli